They are the first to be sentenced for this offence, which was brought in under the Prisons Act 2007 this year.

The legislation was brought in on May 1st, making the possession or use of a phone by inmates a criminal offence.

Thirty-year-old Jonathan Burke, of Ashlawn Court in Bray, pleaded guilty to the offence and was jailed for one month today.

The court heard the mobile was found in his cell at Cloverhill Prison when searched in May.

Twenty-five-year-old Connor Murphy, of Edgeworth Lane in Dublin, also pleaded guilty.

His phone was found in his cell at Wheatfield Prison.

He was also sentenced to a month in jail by Judge John O'Neill.

Twenty-seven-year-old Lithuanian Andreas Ogor Odnikas, of Hunters Run Close, Clonee in Meath, pleaded guilty to having a mobile on him in the recreation yard of Cloverhill Prison.

Hhe was also jailed for a month.

Six other men also charged under the new laws have had their cases put back for a number of weeks.